Rail tie



J. V."MAYHEW.

RAIL HE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1922.

1,417,85 1. Patented May 30, 1922.

INVE/VI'OR t Y Jak' 1? 13 i 5 JACOB V. MAYHEW, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented DIgy 30, 1922.

Application filed March 22, 1922. Serial No. 545,711.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J A001; V. MAYHEW, a

' citizen ofthe United States of America, re

siding at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail-ties and more particularly to metal rail-ties.

One of the main objects is to provide a tie having means to secure the rails. thereon without the agency of bolts. Another object is to provide on tie means to fasten the rails with facility and rapidly. Still another object is to provide a tie of simple construction and which can be manufactured at low cost. Further features and advan tages will appear from the description and drawings which form a part of this application.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a rail mounted upon my rail-tie.

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing a modilied construction of my rail-tie.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation corresponding to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a wedge member used in connection with my rail-tie.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, my invention consists of a metal tie-member l having, adjacent its ends. the rail-chairs cast integrally therewith. The tie-member is also provided with a central web 3 to increase its stiffness, and with the lower webs 4 to insure a good contact of the tie-member with the ground and prevent its displacement in the direction of the rails. The sides of the railchairs are bordered by the flanges 5 which are of suitable height and spacing to accommodate the flange 6 of the rail 7. At the place of junction of the flanges 5 with the central web 3, I provide the bulbous enlargements 8 into which are cored, or cut, the rectangular apertures 9 suitably tapered to receive the wedges 10, illustrated perspectively in Fig. 5. The narrow ends of these wedges are preferably slotted to form two prongs 11 and 12, which are spread apart to pre vent the escape of the wedges, once they are applied to the rail-tie. The inclination of the apertures 9 is preferably made slightly less than the taper of the rail-flange, for the purpose of insuring the positive pressure of the wedges on the. rail, as the former are driven up along the flange.

The connection between the rail-chair and tie-member is additionally strengthened by means of the ribs 13 placed on both sides of the central web and running in the direction of the rails.

The modified construction shown in Figures 3 and 4: differs from the one already described only in that the number of Wedges has been increased. This modification is found advisable on roads having heavy traftie and Which naturally require bigger rails. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the flanges l l of the rail-chairs are provided at both ends with the enlargements 15 through which the wedges 10 are driven and secured. Apart from these changes, the construction is analogous to that described relative to Figs. 1 and 2 and therefore the same numerals have been used to indicate identical parts. I

In order to reduce the noise due to the vibrations caused by the passage of a train on the rails, a sheet of suitable weather-proof and shock-absorbing material, such as fiber,

asbestos, tarfelt, etc, may be inserted between the bottom of the rail-flange and the rail chair, as illustrated in Fig. 4. by the numeral 16.

The method of using my rail-tie is very simple and is as follows: The rails having been placed and aligned on the rail-ties, the wedges are inserted in the tapered apertures and driven by means of a hammer along the inclined faces of the flange. As stated already, the pressure of the wedges on the flange will be increased owing to the fact that the slope of the flange is greater than the inclination of the wedges, thus causing a slight upward bend in the latter. The operation is completed by spreading apart the prongs of the wedges to prevent the accidental withdrawal therefrom.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described my invention as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that I may make such changes in said structure'as do 7 not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is: i 1. In a tie for rails, the combination ofa tie-member, rail-chairs formed integrally therewith and having guide-flanges for said rails, and Wedges for securing the rails upon said chairs; said wedgesbeing positioned 11) the flanges of said chairs and inclined a lesser amount than the slope of the railfla-nges engaged by them.

21111 a tie for rails, the combination of a tie-member; rail ohairs formed, integrally therewith and having guidefianges for said rails, and Wedges for securing the rails upon said chairs; said Wedges being positioned in the flanges of said chairs and inclined a lesser amount than the slope ofthe rail- 

